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Imagine a world where you could go to a nice sit-down dinner and not have to worry about when the waiter would come by to take your order. A new restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan called moJo iCuisine achieves just that by letting the customer browse through the menu and even order through an interactive touch-enabled table.

moJo iCuisine doesn’t have physical menus; instead, the menus are projected onto the tables from overhead. The customer interacts with sensors built into the table allowing them to swipe through the menu, see more detail on each dish, order, and even pays for their meal. The food is described as a mix of “western food, fusion, and molecular gastronomy.” The interface was designed to be viewed from both directions, so both you and your dining partner can play with the interface from opposite ends of the table.

After you’ve ordered and are waiting for your food to come, you can play around with the interactive interface which has games, feedback forms, and of course, advertisements. You can also choose what kind of “table cloth” you’d like to cover the table with while you’re dining. You can check the bill while you’re dining, too, to make sure you haven’t ordered more than you’d like to spend, or to make sure you can afford that next round of drinks.

Not only is the project entertaining for the customer, but it also has plenty of advantages for the restaurant itself. moJo iCuisine implemented a database system that has the ability to record and trace the customers’ preferences, and can compile statistics of the restaurant’s operations.

Though it definitely seems like a tourist attraction, it’s not a bad idea for those of us who don’t know what something is by just reading the name on the menu. Being able to see photos of each dish could be really helpful in ordering at a restaurant you’re unfamiliar with, whether you’re in a foreign country, or you just aren’t familiar with that type of food.

Speak Your Mind

Sarah

I think it’s AWESOME! You’ll still need a waiter or waitress to bring you your order and you can’t blame them (waiter/waitress) for a wrong order…A game where you can get a discount on your meal or get a free drink would be nice. ;)